As the obesity epidemic grows in scope, so too does the “blame game.” Lack of exercise, over-consumption of food, sedentary work environments, lifestyle choices, biological predispositions, genes…the list of possible culprits for America’s fatness goes on.
Fast food is a common target. Earlier this month, an advocacy group launched a campaign petitioning 26 hospitals across the country to remove a major fast food restaurant from their cafeterias with the aim of sending a “better message” to consumers.
Some of the reasoning behind the group’s initiative comes from a 2006 study published in the journal Pediatrics that concluded that allowing fast food centers to operate in hospitals not only affects guests’ consumption of fast food on the day of their visit, but also unintentionally boosts the perception of the “healthfulness” of fast food in general. Here’s more research that supports the initiative:
Courtesy of wagnerfpa.wordpress.com.
So being near to fast food increases the likelihood of obesity, but will removing fast food from hospitals (and other institutions and neighborhoods) help solve the problem?
Consider this:
Blaming fast food restaurants for obesity can place us on a slippery slope. Should we remove buses from our streets to force people to choose the less convenient, but “healthier” walking or biking options? After all, sitting for long periods of time is correlated with obesity, and most adults do not get the recommended level of exercise.
Similarly, while we should limit consumption of fast food, we can’t eliminate it from the American diet as long as there is a demand for convenient, inexpensive, and (arguably) tasty food. We need to improve health through education and develop incentives that encourage healthy lifestyle decisions, proper nutrition, and exercise.
Perhaps a partnership between hospitals and Weight Watchers (or other proven commercial weight loss programs), or the establishment of walking groups or active events within hospital walls, could promote lasting change.
We won’t make any progress in the fight against obesity by playing the blame game at the expense of taking responsibility for our health into our own hands.
Courtesy of www.topnews.in.
What do you think? Will restricting fast food lead to a decrease in obesity? How can we as individuals, families, and institutions promote a healthier America?
Courtesy of eatright.org.
March is National Nutrition Month, and this year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is urging Americans to “Get Your Plate In Shape.” With the help of the “My Plate” model, which replaced the Food Pyramid in June 2011, the experts are giving us a reminder of the healthy nutrition goals we have heard before:
One of the most common New Year’s Resolutions is to improve health.
Unfortunately, most New Year’s Resolutions are also doomed to fail.
In the interest of saving you time in route to your destination (the body of your dreams, we hope!), let’s examine some of the most common exercise mistakes to determine whether you have what it takes to succeed.
Mistake #1: Doing Too Much, Too Soon
If it has been a while since you’ve exercised, or you have been exercising inconsistently, your body isn’t going to respond well to a strenuous program right off the bat. Choose a schedule that you can stick to (e.g. one hour per day, three times per week), and begin at an intensity level that feels challenging, but not debilitating. Make sure to incorporate adequate time for a warm-up and cool-down.
Mistake #2: Forgetting Proper Technique
When it comes to resistance training, technique is the difference between getting results and getting injured, or not seeing any improvement at all. It starts with proper posture, which means keeping the core engaged (imagine how you would brace yourself if someone was about to punch you in the stomach), and standing tall with a neutral spine, shoulder blades pulled back, and head lifted.
Courtesy of Denverpost.com
Also, make sure you know the purpose of the exercise you are about to perform. What muscles are working? What is the proper range of motion for the exercise? Is this the most effective way to target the muscles I want to work?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s time to talk to a trainer or instructor, or do some research on your own. Time spent now on learning how to do the exercise correctly means less time to your goal.
Mistake #3: Choosing Quantity Over Quality
If doing an hour of cardio means walking on a treadmill while you catch up on the latest episode of Law and Order and you barely break a sweat, then that hour didn’t do a whole lot to help you improve your fitness (the same concept applies to doing a lot of repetitions with almost negligible weight). Working out should feel challenging, and the good news is, challenging yourself appropriately will lead you to the results you want in less time.
Courtesty of Workoutequip.com
Mistake #4: Always Doing the Same Thing
Don’t worry; you don’t have to give up cycling if that is your favorite workout. Just make sure that you are changing your exercise intensity from time to time (alternating hard days and easy days, or increasing resistance over time), and maintaining a balanced program. That means incorporating cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training.
Now for the Number One resolution-killer
Mistake #5: Ignoring the Truth
Make sure you are answering the following questions honestly:
If the answer to these questions is “No,” or “I’m not sure,” you may be setting yourself up for failure. Give yourself your best chance at fitness this year – avoid these detrimental mistakes, create and stick to a plan, and go for it!
What are your fitness goals this year? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
The annual holiday blizzard has hit, complete with last-minute shopping trips, baking extravaganzas, parties, parties, and more parties. How about giving yourself the gift of stress relief and letting your workouts at Midtown be the calm in your storm? Here are all the details you need to know about the remaining holiday events at the club.
An Opportunity to Give Back
Help someone stay warm this season by decorating our Holiday Mitten Tree. This month, Midtown is collecting donations of new mittens/gloves, hats, and scarves for West Suburban PADS to distribute to those in need in our community. Both children’s and adults’ sizes are needed, so let’s make it as full and colorful as possible! Thank you in advance for your support of this great cause.
Club Hours
Saturday, December 31: Holiday Hours 7:00AM – 1:00PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Sunday, January 1: Holiday Hours 7:00AM – 1:00PM, Kidtown 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Class Schedule
Saturday, December 31:
Sunday, January 1:
And in case you didn’t have a chance to join us on Christmas Eve, here is a quick recap of some of our special holiday classes:
Wishing all Midtown members and friends a joyous holiday season, and a happy and healthy 2012. How are you going to make this your best year yet?
Why do we care about trends? Researchers study them, writers report them, teachers teach them, and tweeters tweet them. Although there are many advantages to being “in the know,” one of the most important reasons to pay attention to trends is that they can help us prepare for and adapt to changes ahead.
Over the past six years, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has identified trends in the fitness industry with their ”Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends” (you can view the full 2012 survey text here). Come January 1, some of the most popular resolutions will be health- and fitness-related, so let’s get a jump on meeting our goals by looking at what the 2012 fitness trends mean for us.
Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals are the core of a rapidly expanding industry. In spite of tough economic times, consumers still place a lot of value in getting and staying healthy. The fitness industry has responded to this need by employing qualified trainers and instructors.
What does that mean for you? You can breathe a little easier knowing that you can trust your fitness professionals to lead you in safe and effective workouts, helping you reach your goals faster and giving you more bang for your buck.
Strength training is here to stay. Having been near the top of the trends list for several years, strength training is the first training “type” on the trends list, accompanied by personal, core, functional, and group training.
What does that mean for you? Since most of us sit at a desk all day, adding a little weight-bearing exercise such as resistance training can help improve our energy levels, mood, and overall functionality. Expect fitness centers to continue to update equipment and training options to facilitate strength-training programs that meet the needs of all types of exercisers – a stronger body is yours for the taking!
No one will be left behind. Training options are becoming more population-specific, with new programs being tailored to the aging Baby Boomer population and the fight against childhood obesity (just to name a few). Your fitness professionals are trained specifically to work with a variety of individuals from athletes to people fighting obesity or other diseases.
What does that mean for you? The fitness industry is actively trying to meet you where you are to help you get the most you can out of an exercise program, regardless of your goals or fitness level. In other words, you don’t have to start off looking like Jane Fonda to make exercise a part of your life.
It’s all about energy. Zumba, boot camp, and spinning are growing in popularity. These group classes are high-energy and fun, and put the emphasis on pushing your physical limits.
What does that mean for you?Releasing stress through dancing, high-intensity training, and cycling will leave you feeling strong, accomplished, and ready to tackle life’s challenges. You just have to be willing to give them a try. And although not “trending” anymore, Pilates fans shouldn’t be worried that their favorite class is going to disappear; only time will tell whether these new arrivals and old favorites will continue on as actual trends rather than fads.
The key this year is to work with Midtown to customize a fitness program that will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuventated, and (hopefully) like you had a darn good time.
Now that you know what’s to come in 2012, it’s time to use this information to start doing something that will work for you.
Your 2012 motto shouldn’t be “once I meet my goal, I’ll be happy.” Instead, how about you take a chance on what the industry is giving you and say “it’s time to give myself knowledge, revitalizing energy, and a sense of accomplishment, and add some more fun to my fitness routine.” Now that’s a reason to work out today.
What do you think of these trends? Have you already tried any of these fitness programs or plan to in 2012? What are you going to do differently in your workout routine this year?
You wrote it, we read it, and now we’re sharing it! Last month, Midtown group fitness instructor Frank Ringhofer led a promotion encouraging members to share stories about how group exercise has helped you reach your fitness goals. Sure, we could just recap the research reports that tell us that group exercise adds accountability, structure, and fun to a workout routine, but we thought our own participants are really the best authority on the subject.
So here are your Top 5 Reasons Why It Really is “Better in Groups!”
You Sweat No one said it better than Joyce, “When I first joined the club, I did not perspire…now I am a virtual faucet.”Group exercise classes provide new physical challenges that help participants get outside their comfort zone. Instructors constantly bring you new ways to train your cardiorespiratory and muscular systems, so that you won’t get stuck in a rut. According to Pat, “I don’t get nearly as good of a workout running or on an elliptical as I do in Spin class.”
You Make Gym Buddies If you know the chest track in Group Power is about to make your arms burn like never before, it’s much easier to go for it with friends by your side. Group exercise classes provide a way to connect with others who will encourage and support you en route to reaching your fitness goals. As one of our members said, friends help you “endure and progress.” You also told us that many class-formed friendships even go beyond the walls of Midtown. How great is that?
You Add Variety to Your Routine Many members mentioned the appeal of the variety within and between classes at Midtown. From Yoga, Pilates, and Qi Gong, to Group Active, Group Power, Group Kick, and Group Step, to Cycle, and of course Zumba(!), there is really something for everyone regardless of your fitness level, or even your mood on any particular day. Instructors are consistently changing and adapting classes by providing new music, new moves, and new motivation, which brings us to our next benefit…
You Get Inspired and Motivated, and Have Fun We were so pleased to hear from many of you that our instructors are going above and beyond to respond to and meet your needs. Our number one goal is to provide safe and effective fitness classes, and getting you excited to come back for more is the ultimate bonus! According to Sally, “Caring instructors who are willing to share modifications that make things doable for ME are what keep me coming back.” Please continue to provide us with your feedback, so that we can continue to exceed your expectations.
You Can Take Your Fitness to a New Level Perhaps the best thing we learned from reading your stories is that group classes have helped you make some incredible changes in your lives. You have improved multiple aspects of fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength/endurance, and flexibility. Many of you have also achieved significant weight loss, and are feeling healthier than ever. While we could sit here and take the credit for your success, we instead offer our congratulations to you for putting in the effort and making it happen. You are the inspiration for why we teach!
If you haven’t tried group exercise yet, I want to leave you with one last thought from Deborah, who submitted our winning entry: “This is the first time in my life that I have kept a fitness habit going for as long as I have. I don’t plan to ever go back to my former non-fit self. Try it. You’ll get hooked!”
Thank you, Deborah, for your inspiring words, and thanks to all who participated in sharing your stories with us.
You have nothing to lose (except maybe a few pounds), so get started with group exercise today!
What class are you going to try this week?
